This week’s line-up includes a player who posted the best display of the 2016-17 season so far, as well as a Great Britain legend who becomes the first player to take his second starting appearance of the new campaign.
Tyler Bernardini (Leicester Riders)
An apt starting point this week is with the Leicester Riders’ guard, who was on fire in his team’s entertaining road win at Cheshire Phoenix. Bernardini grabs his first berth of the season in style with the best performance of the weekend after amassing a season-leading performance efficiency valuation of 37. That was accrued thanks to a mesmerising shooting display which saw the American hold a three-point clinic by making eight of nine downtown, en-route to 32 points.
Drew Sullivan (Leicester Riders)
The first player to find himself as one of our fabulous starting five on more than once this season, is one of the most recognisable faces in the UK game. Sullivan was his usual brilliant and influential self for Riders in their first game of their weekend double-header, when they steamed past Leeds Force. The former Great Britain favourite could barely miss as he inked a 70% shooting effort that resulted in 18 points, while also mustering seven rebounds and four assists.
Rashad Hassan (London Lions)
The strong Riders theme continues with a first slot of the campaign for the ex-Leicester man who continued Lions’ great start by inspiring a long overdue win on Tyneside. Hassan proved a real handful for Esh Group Eagles Newcastle, who were shot down by Lions on their own court for the first time in more than a decade, with the forward impressing after harvesting a game-winning double-double of 21 points and 12 boards.
Anton Grady (Plymouth Raiders)
The power and versatility of Plymouth’s frontcourt star was on display as the home team surged to a mammoth win against the visiting Manchester Giants. Grady lit it up for the locals at the Pavilions with an inside-outside performance which ended up with him posting a fine 28 points. He showed his range with a trio of scores from behind the three-point line, with his rookie appearance in our line-up sealed with six boards, three assists and two blocked shots.
Kieron Achara (Glasgow Rocks)
Last but not least, is our second Great Britain man, with Achara coming up trumps in an eye-catching road win for the Scottish side at Worcester Wolves last Friday. The forward was rampant in the paint where he made a brilliant 11 of 15 and that contributed to him netting 26 points. He was just one rebound shy of completing a double-double and evidenced his veteran class by adding three blocked shots, two steals and not turning the ball over once.
Off the bench – Donte Nicholas (Plymouth Raiders), Lewis Thomas (Glasgow Rocks), Kai Williams (London Lions), Mike Ochereobia (Surrey Scorchers), Earl Brown (Cheshire Phoenix), Daryl Corletto (Plymouth Raiders), Tony Wroblicky (DBL Sharks Sheffield).